THE MINISTERIAL VISIT

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 64, 8 April 1879, Page 2

THE MINISTERIAL VISIT

! FOXTON DEPUTATION. ■■ • ..'■■ On Thursday evening last, at 8 p.m M a deputation consisting of i\ essrs Thynne, Flower, Sanson, Go-vveiy McLean, A Gray. Crowther, Hulke, Baker, Loudori, and RusselJ, waited Upon the lion. Jas. Macandrew, Minister for Public Works, and' the Hon. John Ballanco, Colonial Treasurer, to .bring before them certain matters ebnnectea with the district. - j Mr fhynne headed the deputation, having been unanimously requested to act as spokesman. The deputation .was^ most courteously received by Mr. Macandrew, who requested them to take their seats. DEVIATION OF THE RAILWAY. . Mr Thynne said the deputation had beer, appointed to bring under notice of the Ministers some of the wants of tho district, nnd the first question they desired to mention, and which at present affected the town and port the most, was the necessity I for the promised deviation of the railway to the wharf from the street being carried out. This was an important matter, as tho present otate of things increased the cost of tho shipment cf timber by sixpence. Timber being; the staple product of this district, since the duty was taken off, competition had arisen, and cheap wharfage was essential. If the deviation .were made, and the timber trade incroased, a largo sum of money would be spent in cutting the tim> ber, tfcc, if not, the timber would be burnt, and the country would lose tho monoy. Ho understood money was already voted for chis work, and he asked if it whs likely the work would soon bo begun. Mr Ballanco remarked there was no separate vote, though tho amount might have been included in the lump ,aum voted for tho Pate i- Manawatn Railway. ' Mr Thynno added the Government had already purchased some of tho land required. Mr Macandrew would say at onco he was glad he hud como on this tour, as from what he had seen and would see he would be able to form an intelligent view of public matters. It was clear to him that whether tho money was voted or not, in the interests of the railway the work asked for . must bo done as soon as possible ; at present it was most inconvenient. The Department saw the necessity for the work, and no groat time would hi lost in* starting it. It was apparent that whilst matters were uncertain it would be unwise to spend any great amount of money in large public works ; but wherever the main line went, it must reach the wharf. This matter would not be forgotten. Mr. Thynne urged the necessity of prompt" " ness, as every day foreign timber was beiii" imported. '. -;" -. ■■ *' ':.,'-;; ° Mr Macandrew admitted: the porj; was working at a disadvantage ' Mr Ballance expressed the same opinion. Mr Ctihpi: ell remarked Government were now sending out of the colony for sleepers, whilst Manawatu was able 'to supply enormous quantities. Mr Mar.andrew said they were not going out of the Colony for any v.ore. The attention called to the matter lately had had a good effect, and now. sleepers were, beiug offered right and left. There would be no more foreign importations. They could, dismiss that subject with' the assurance" that no time would be lost in diverting the railway to tho wharf, as' origin ully in-* tended. ' . ... Mr Gower pointed out- that' competion having arisen against this port in the white pine limber, in which Manawatu was especially rich, the whole colony was inter- 1 ested in enabling Foxton to export as cheaply as possible. It would not pay to send it by rail either to Wellington or Wanganui. . Mr Flower said ihe donation would de. crease the, cost of working. .' .-;-... Mr Macauerew remarked thut the fact that the deviation would pay the Government was an assurance that the work would be done. Tho line was paying well now, but he believed would pay better, if the improvements were made. THK WELLINGTON RAILWAY. Mr Thynne said they next desired to refer to tho Wellington Railway. If tho main line wont via Sandon the distance would bo greatly lessened, and Carnarvon, old-established agricultural districts, were destitute of easy.communioation with other districts, and entitled to consideration. If the line ran into Foxton, tho country south of tho Manawtitu Hiver would have a convenient port j otherwise, its only port would bo Wellington. Mr. Macandrew had no dembt tho lino via Sandon would be much shorter. He had heard a good deal about this matter. Tho Government had no foregone conclusian. Full and exhaustive reports were being prepared of both lines, and till they were in, he could express no decided opinion. Mr Hulke remarked upon the native land question. . • Mr Macandrew replied that Mr Sheehan had told him large blocks iof land ' were aboutbeing purchased from the natives. *Mr Thynne, said the Government already owned all tne" bash land. • • ■>

Mr Macandrewsuggosted that theSandon Railway Company might extend their operations to the point of divergence. Mr Gwer said they would have no district to rate, as no settlement had taken

plitco south of tho Manawitu Hiver. It was iiiird on other districts that fcho North Mtmawahi sh/mld receive so many favors, | w.: ether they dceyral it or, not, to'tlic ox- j clusiun of. newly districts. The (.lovcnitnent ! would grim nothing by running the; -line into IV.lnierston, ns it would .bo merely a parallel lino to that now/usort. - Mr Maoai drc-w asked if tho two lines were parallel, how far would t|ioy bo npart. Mr Thynnc replied abolit 0 allies, with tho river tfebweeii. Mr Halla.ico thought the Sandon railway was not a (strong argument in favor of Foxton, as, if the through traHic went via ihe Government would danli.iro their own lino whilst supporting a branch rail#ay-. Mr (rower thought tile wlld.le travelling public would be beuentted by the shortening of tho distAntiSi Mr Dullanco ,said no dpubfc there were large and' public views ; but '■ the \ j&bVorh:- 1 mont would likely act iis a priva'e firm, and try to keep all tlieir business on dac lino.Mr Macandrew said tho Government were likely to buy up all the brunch linos. But hojjwould suggest to the. deputation that if by'taking the lino to a large tract of available country would bo opened, that could only be done by a railway. Mr Thynrie Remarked nerriy all the Gom vernment land was sold. Tho railway to Palrnerstpn woukl open up. private-land". / :; jjMjb aiacandrew; saljl 'ttijetf werfi.'taik-iflg i about & subject „W uld■ ;iuval ve? .the. expenditure of a Quarter of a. million of money, and they had not a penny to do it with. fiig {>\vn' opinion wa<, that event\ially both fines would be made. Mr Thynno said their chief object was to urge ttiat immediately the point of contact was decided upon, the work of construction /should be -started at^tb^ia/end, so that the lipe wouldibegin to puVajE onoci t Mr Macandrew thought It should be begun simultaneously at each cud. The £!5,0U0 voted Would nob go far, after the survey had been paid for.»"»llc had' recently. gone over, the'i'oute 1 at the Wellington erid,and: was surprised so easy a grade could be found out; of . Wellington, ile thpught aptnrt; would be made at the Wellington end im : ' mediately.' i Kegartling Manawatu^hchvas now groping in the dark. ' Me could quite undeivtartd their ;wish, that the ; line- should be begun as early as possible, whether it be at Foxton or not. Several gentlemen remarked that was their wish. / Mr ißallancejsaid there was one thing in 'their fftvori 'in tho schedule to the Act of last session, the point of contact was- fixed at Fox*on. If the line went to any other place, the Act must first be amended. air Sanson said that for 7 years the residents of/ his' district had bien withbut communication. Surely Fitzherbert might be expected to make their line as well as the Sandon settlers. " ■ . ' i ' . : : : ! !< : ■' / Mr Macandrew expected to see the lime whon every district road would be made a railroad. He would be only too glad to see Fijzherbert follow the example of Sandon. Mr Sanson remarked if the Wellington line were to join at Foxtou, that fact would greatly assist them. ;. • : . , ; Mr .Grower referred to tlie large area,. of the swamps between Fox';ori and Palmerston. Ihakara Tukumaru, Ronata Rojiiha, and another native chief, then entered the room. Mr Baker interpreted. .Ihakara acted )aa; spokesman, and said :— lt Is about 2 years', I think,- since the Wellington Uailway was first talked of. I have already signed a petition asking you to send the railway to Foxton. The people of Palmernton have, I believe,. asked for the railway to go along the fDOt of the hills to Palmerston, leaving Foxton out. I think they are very conceited. It is like tlieir impudence to ask for the Hue to pass Foxton", the natural port. Therefore I say they thiuk too much of themselves, and are isolated. I should like the petition I signed to have beeu presented tonight. Perhaps you have it already. Of course we understand any Maori land taken for the railway will be paid for. I finish up by saying I think it should bo paid for. That is all I have to say. Mr Macaudrow informed -Ihakara the interpreter, that the petition had been received, and the whole matter would be considared, but no decision hal been como to. The Government, however, would not pay tho native* for the land require J. On the contrary, thoy oxpectod to get paid handsomely for putting tho railway through tho land. : . : : . „-.'. . .. :, Ihakera stated in reply, that, the. natives would probably hand over the Government free of cost sufficient land to make the lino. ' t Mr Macandrew said that would be a great assistance in enabling the Government to .decide the line. Ihakara — Who can withstand the Europeans ? only I think the Government should pay for the land they use. '. WIIARF CHARGE-?. ' Mr Thynne then mentioned the matter of tho wharf charges, and asked that the oods .might be classified, and rates reduced. .■'■;• ■•;., Mr Macandrew replied that anything in" that line Mr Lawson, who was an expert, recommended, iiho- would agree, to. : :Ho wojild make a note of it. M • TORT 01? ENTRY. - f\lx Thynne then urged the claims of Foxfton ,to jd6- made a porfc of entry- In : doing so, Ec remarked it was the port for some lp>O)Ji\ peq'pje. . ,;.. .\ : _<■■■ ..,! .:.-:■■ ; : /v '• 1 ftfr Macandrew said that although the matter did not belong to Ms department, yet having seen the place he fully recognised the justice of their request^arid would -hear.-! tily support any effort made in that direction. • He knew : much-smaller places which' were ports of entry. He thought air Ballanoq would do the same.. ... ;; r . ] Mr Ballance wnuld be most happy to do so. A short time ago thb Government sent Mr See 1 , of the Customs, to look into the matter. He had made caroiul enquries and sent in an exhaustive report, in which tho whole of the facts were in favour of Foxton ' being 1 made a Customs port. Sir George Grey, head of the department, agreed with the proposal, and at no distant date, it would be proclaimed. As tho port of a large and prosperous district, its claims could not bs overlooked. .' y HAROOR ENDOWMENT. jfMr Thynno thon reforreflto the harbor 'endowment question. Ho said tho Wanganui Harboui. Board had an endowment in this County, but Mauawatu was unable to get an' endowment in its own County or any other. „.. , ( Mr Ballance asked if MVThyniie know the history of that matter. --■ ■ Mr,"Ehynne replied he. knew $hs. district; member had signally failed. Mr Ballauco said it. was.uot thamember'a fault. The Uill passed the Lower House but was thrown out by the Council. Tho fact was, no data accompanied the Bill. Parliament knew nothing about the river, and no improvements were proposed. (Mr Flower— None were required. • Langh - ter.) Last session the House was deluged wjth endowment Bills, which it was impossible to carry through., Mr Macahdrew remarked that in this matter Foxton was " behind the fair." A short conversation then took place regarding the pilot duos, &c, at the port of Foxton. The deputation thon thanked Mr Mac* lindrew, and withdrew/]